[Third Person's PoV]
Lucian calmly walked through the corridor until he found dusa sitting by the stairs, looking up and wiping her tears. He approached her and sat down beside her.
"Sorry about them... You know how kids are—always seeking answers to satisfy their curiosity," he said in a lighthearted tone, trying to lift the mood.
dusa shook her head. "No, I'm ashad of how I reacted. I'm thousands of years old. I shouldn't have behaved like that, especially in front of a group of children."
Lucian chuckled softly. "This is the part where I'm supposed to put my hand on yours for support, but I doubt what you need right now is my hand on yours," he teased gently, which brought a small chuckle from dusa.
"But that's beside the point. What I'm really trying to say is that what you're feeling is completely justifiable. You don't have to be ashad of how you reacted or how you feel. They're your emotions, and no one can take that away from you." Lucian leaned back on the stairs, giving her space to process his words.
dusa finished wiping her eyes, then put her glasses back on. She turned to Lucian, studying him with a strange expression.
Noticing her look, Lucian raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing... It's just, that's surprisingly mature for soone your age," she said, still eyeing him curiously.
"What can I say? My mother raised well. She also taught to be there for people, so if you need soone to listen—lucky for you, I've got two ears," he said with a soft smile.
dusa smiled and ruffled his hair, letting out a deep sigh. "It's just... seeing that kid, Percy, was it? I know he has nothing to do with what happened to , but those green eyes of his... they remind of *him*. It triggered so rather unpleasant mories, and I just snapped when that girl ntioned how the gods altered the events. It was like..." dusa paused as if trying to find the words herself.
"Like they were minimizing all the pain and suffering you went through? As if everything you experienced and struggled with was for nothing? That your history was erased, and only you are left to rember the truth?" Lucian interjected.
dusa stared at him in shock. "That's... exactly it. It's honestly scary how accurate that is" she said, her voice filled with surprise.
Lucian shrugged. "What can I say? I pay attention. I listen. And I understand how that kind of pain sticks with you."
Her expression softened into a genuine smile. "You really are a good listener."
She stared at Lucian for a mont, making him feel a little awkward under her intense gaze as if trying to make her mind up about sothing. After a brief silence, dusa spoke again. "Can I be honest with you about sothing? Sothing I hope stays between us?"
Lucian straightened up, sensing the seriousness in her tone. "Of course."
dusa hesitated, her voice quiet as she began. "I feel... pathetic. What happened to was centuries, millennia ago. By all ans, I should be over it by now. But as you can see, I'm still haunted by it."
Lucian nodded, thinking for a mont. "Can I say sothing that might sound harsh?"
dusa nodded, curious. "Go ahead."
"Well, duh!" he said with an eyeroll, earning a confused look from her. "Of course you're still affected by it, dusa. You were cursed to live as a gorgon, a constant reminder of the tragedy you experienced. And it wasn't just any random curse—it was from the very goddess you worshipped, the one you placed all your faith in. The one you gave your body and soul to."
Lucian used his shadow to form a hand, gently placing it over hers. "You're not pathetic. The fact that you haven't 'gotten over it' isn't sothing to be ashad of. What you went through leaves scars that don't simply heal. They ache, and they stay with you."
He paused before continuing. "When I first heard your story, I pitied you. I know you might not like hearing that, but it's the truth. I felt deep sympathy for the injustice you faced. But as I got older, and I experienced the dangers of the supernatural world myself, sothing changed. I stopped pitying you. Instead, I felt admiration. Respect."
dusa raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Seriously?"
Lucian nodded. "You could have given up at any point. Immortals can cease to exist if they lose the will to live. But you didn't. Despite everything you've been through—despite being tortured and cursed for eons—you're still here. Still living. If that's not a strength worth admiring, then I don't know what is."
dusa smiled warmly, touched by his words. She brushed a strand of hair from Lucian's face and kissed his forehead. "Thank you, Lucian. You're very kind. I have to say, dea did a fantastic job raising you."
Lucian grinned. "Thanks, Aunty."
dusa's eyes widened as she stifled a laugh, turning away to hide her amusent. "Aunty? Now that's sothing I wasn't expecting to hear from you."
Lucian shrugged playfully. "Well, from how you describe your experience with my mother the two of you seem close and you kind of feel like family after everything we discussed together."
dusa chuckled, pinching his cheek affectionately. "Aunty, huh? I think I like that."
dusa then hugged Lucian tightly. "Thank you, Lucian, truly..."
Lucian patted her arm with a small smile. "It's Lucy..."
dusa pulled back slightly, confused. "What?"
"Those really close to , I let them call Lucy," he explained casually.
"Lucy? Are you serious?" dusa asked, amusent dancing in her eyes.
"What? It's a cute nickna I've grown to like. But like I said, only those I allow," he added with a grin.
dusa chuckled softly. "I see, so we're giving each other cutesy nicknas now? Then I choose *Aunty Em,*" she said proudly.
Lucian smiled and nodded in agreent. "Aunty Em it is."
dusa pushed herself off the stairs, gesturing for Lucian to follow. "I think it's best if we head back. The food's probably cold by now. I'll need to reheat it."
"I can always use magic to heat it up quickly," Lucian offered with a wink.
"You, my brand new, not-related nephew, are a lifesaver," dusa teased as they re-entered the dining room.
But as soon as they walked in, they were t with a solemn atmosphere. Tears stread down the faces of so of the others, and Percy sat there, his face twisted in sha. A single tear rolled down his cheek, and his head hung low, almost touching the table.
"I'm sorry for all the pain and suffering you've experienced because of my father," Percy said, his voice thick with remorse. "You didn't deserve what you went through... no one does."
**************************************
10 advance Chapters on: patreon/Shadow_D_Monarch3
User Comments
0 comments from readers